Month: December 2015

Tis the season for warm-and-fuzzy feelings! Are you having a Christmas or New Year’s themed wedding? Here are some our favorite inspirations for these wonderfully festive winter weddings!

Invitations

Christmas Celebration

Prepare your guests for wedding cheer with this Christmas wedding idea! Instead of sealing your festive invites in an envelope, consider enclosing them inside of a small package or “present” to mail to your guests. You’ll have fun creating these mini gifts, and they will encourage your friends and family to join in on the wedding spirit!

New Year’s Invites

Get inspired by these festive invitations and advice from Ceci Johnson (a top New York stationary designer) on the latest wedding stationary trends. Good news! Metallic is now trending which is perfect for your gold and glittery New Year’s festivities!

Color & Décor

Festive Christmas Wedding

Although, you may feel tempted to drape everything in bright greens and rich reds, when it comes to traditional Christmas colors– think less-is-more! For added elegance, choose white as the base for your palate with added reds and greens as subtle pops of color throughout your furnishing and décor.

Festive New Year’s Wedding

Champagne, confetti, gold, and silver- these ingredients along with a newly formed union and newly formed resolutions make New Year’s the perfect time to say, “I do!”! Pops of glitter and glam should be the statement of your color palate and décor, here are some of our favorite inspirations from Brit + Co & BRIDES.

Cheers & Toasts with Festive Cocktails

Christmas Wedding

Play up the winter season with white hot chocolate, pops of swirled peppermint, and sugar rimmed glasses of gingerbread beer! Can’t decide which beverage will suit you best? View this gallery of 100 Christmas cocktails by Marie Claire for a push in holiday creativity and inspiration!

New Year’s Wedding

Think of bubbly, light-on-your-lips drinks to complement your New Year’s Eve wedding day! Excite your guests with these fizzy cocktails by Martha Stewart to sip on before the countdown to your marriage and the New Year!

Love is in the air and you can’t wait to set the date- literally! Before tying the knot and saying, “I do”, follow our top 5 tips for planning a fabulous last-minute wedding!

Budget & Venue/Reception

Make setting your wedding budget the first to-do on your last-minute wedding checklist! Knowing and allocating costs will help the organization and planning process of your big day go much smoother. The average cost of a wedding in the United States is currently between $19,833 and $33,055 not including the honeymoon (http://www.costofwedding.com/). Once you have your budget set, it’s time to pick a date and find a venue for the ceremony and reception! One way to save money (and headache in terms of additional planning!) is to have your wedding ceremony and reception at the same site. Search online for some venues or spaces that you would like to have your big day take place and compare prices/styles. This is an area where you can think outside the box and search into options, such as: barn venues or tasteful community halls and centers. Keep in mind that Friday and Saturday weddings are usually less expensive and more available than Sunday weddings, so consider this in your planning and budget!

Guest List & Invites

The next step in planning your fabulous last-minute wedding is to create your guest list. Your guest list can be less stressful and more inexpensive if you follow these tips!

Keep your guest list smaller- this will not only keep costs down, but will help when organizing last-minute table seating & catering details.

Research into pre-printed wedding invitations. Head to a local store or visit websites, such as Minted.com, to have invitations on hand and in a hurry. You can avoid the wait time on receiving custom designed invitations while still insuring that each invite is handwritten, incorporates your theme, and is personal by scouting out options near you!

Consider utilizing Facebook. Create a Facebook page for your wedding and invite family and friends online. This will allow you to keep a track of a guest count as well as save time on writing invitations.

Style

When planning for a last-minute wedding, there are ways to save on time and money while still looking fabulous! Here are some things to consider:

Wedding Dress and Groom Suit: To save on time and budget, research local wedding gown companies that have pre-sized wedding dresses and tuxedos. There are several great alternatives that will have trendy and flattering designs that you can try on and purchase the day you visit (Ex. David’s Bridal or Men’s Warehouse).

Research local bridal salons, as they often offer sample sales where you can take a designer gown home with you that very day. This is also a great opportunity to make a day trip out of a wedding gown purchase with your closest family members and friends!

Give your Bridal & Groom party the freedom to choose and purchase their own wedding attire. Set guidelines for color and have each member select style that is most flattering for each of their own body types. Not only will you bridesmaids/grooms men appreciate the opportunity to choose their own outfit, but it will also take the responsibility of planning their attire out of your time and budget.

Get creative with DIY décor for your venue and reception. Do-it-yourself creates an excellent opportunity to have complete control over the theme and style of your wedding while saving on your budget! Enlist a “DIY bridesmaid’s day” where you and your bridal party create fun and unique pieces for your wedding!

Catering

When it comes to planning for an event last-minute, take a moment to research local restaurants or catering companies that offer discounts for large parties. Keep cuisine casual and comforting – sliders and sandwiches are less expensive than four course meals and still provide guests with wholesome plates!

We hope you find these tips useful while planning your amazing wedding. No matter when the date is set, make sure to enjoy every step of the planning process!